al mvp race

A guy can hit 52 homers and drive in 134 runs and score 114 runs and hit .342 and have a fielding percentage of .998.

That's a Hall of Fame season. But does it necessarily make an MVP season?

Over 162 games, I'd like to think it goes way beyond the numbers. Are there at least 5 "moments" that shifted the season?

Did the MVP candidate hustle to take an extra base on a single when his team was losing by a run in the middle of June during a 3-game losing streak? And because he took that extra base to put himself into scoring position, the next batter drove him in to tie the game, and then the team pulled out a win to end the losing streak and right the ship.

And there could be many other little moments like that, that truly define an MVP.

I still think about Gibson's MVP season in '88 for the Dodgers. His numbers really weren't that great. What I think about, though, is an early Grapefruit League game that season. Just before he went out to right field, a Dodger had filled Gibby's glove with shaving cream. Gibby goes fucking nuts and rips into the team in the clubhouse, telling them that he's not there to fuck around, that he's there to fucking win baseball games and for everyone to grow.the-fuck.up!

It set a tone, I believe. No, the '88 Dodgers weren't world beaters, but they fought day in, day out, not to mention, Orel Hershiser turned in one of the greatest pitching seasons ever and broke Drysdale's scoreless innings streak. But I digress.

Gibson's MVP, I believe, was more about his leadership than it was about otherworldly numbers. Maybe I'm wrong about that. But I'd like the MVP to bring more to the table than 52/134/114/.342/.998.

So who in the AL can boast the most important "moments" that aren't necessarily related to the cliche of HR/RBI/BA etc.?

 

Jeter's leadoff bomb off of Beckett would make you list, Xan.

 

Is this written in a foreign language?

I am at a loss how someone how who puts up a line of 52/134/114/.342/.998. in a full season needs "moments" to be worthy of the MVP. But if he puts up 25/76/106/.290/.964 and goes red ass on a teammate during spring training, that moment is what makes his season transcendent.

 

So the MVP is based on grit and hustle and leadership, and "season changing moments", according to the voter?

 

When you put it that way, with a bear and funny caption and all, I can see your point.

Good show.

 

Kind of like Kirk Gibson in spring training.

 

Pope, so numbers like I posted automatically make someone the MVP?

That's all I'm asking.

 

Is there someone with better numbers or near-equivalent numbers? If the answer to that question is no, then the MVP should be almost automatic.

 

It is very easy to determine if a player is having an MVP-quality season. Usually, but not always, it's relatively easy to determine which of those outstanding seasons is the best overall in terms of this dangerously undefined award on the "I know it when I see it" grounds. Mauer falls into this category. But if he wasn't around for some reason, Jeter would win the award hands down.
It is my experience that those who downplay Jeter's abilities are simply born-and-bred Yankee haters seeking to disguise emotion through statistical manipulation.

 

I disagree, pope.

What if the great numbers are from a guy on the 4th-place team, whereas another player on a contender kept making great plays over the course of the season and finished with pretty good numbers, but not great numbers?

Is "most valuable" still about numbers only?

I think we've had this argument in many forms here. I keep forgetting what the general concensus is. I think people here believe it's about great numbers first and foremost.

 

I'm not a Jeter hater by any means and he is having a great year but please don't tell me that it is some type of sin to criticize Captain Jetes. Derek Jeter has not been a good defensive shortstop over the years and has deserved criticism for it which he rarely ever gets from media that laps up every Jeter moment.

I do think Jeter is a great player , I just can't stand that people think he's above criticism.

Jeter might be the most overrated and simultaneously underrated player to ever play. The people who hate him refuse to believe he does anything well and the people who love him think he's above criticism.

 

What it means is the guy on the 4th place team has shittier teammates.